Deformable sieve mat screening apparatus having raised sieve mat rims

Abstract

A screening apparatus comprises an elongated support frame; a mobile, deformable sieve consisting of a sieve mat extending along the length of the support frame and having lateral edges; and a series of alternatingly immobile and mobile sieve mat carriers mounted on the support frame and extending transversely to the length of the support frame, the sieve mat being affixed to the carriers and the mobile carriers being movable with respect to the support frame in the direction of the length of the support frame, the lateral sieve mat edges extending transversely to the carriers and being raised to form rims for the sieve mat.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A screening apparatus comprising: (a) an elongated support frame;   (b) a mobile, deformable sieve consisting of a sieve mat extending along the length of the support frame and having lateral edges; and   (c) a series of alternatingly immobile and mobile sieve mat carriers mounted on the support frame and extending transversely to the length of the support frame, the sieve mat being affixed to the carriers and the mobile carriers being movable with respect to the support frame in the direction of the length of the support frame, the lateral sieve mat edges extending transversely to the carriers and being raised to form rims for the sieve mat, the carriers having support shoulders for the raised sieve mat rims which are free of perforations, and the support shoulders having an arcuate transition section.   
     
     
       2. The screening apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support frame has side walls adjacent the raised sieve mat rims, the sieve mat rims being raised substantially above the adjacent support frame side walls. 
     
     
       3. The screening apparatus of claim 2, further comprising reinforcement ledges extending along the raised sieve mat rims and being affixed to the raised sieve mat rims in the range of the immobile carriers.